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#FemaleSexualMed

Female Sexual Dysfunction - FSD

What is Female Sexual Dysfunction?

Female
Sexual Dysfunction is now readily recognized by physicians, psychologists,
marriage counselors and other healthcare workers as a medical condition that can
seriously harm a marriage or other relationship.

Female
Sexual Dysfunction includes a variety of disorders that are related to desire
for sex, arousal during sexual activity, problems with orgasm or pain during
sexual activity. If a woman’s sexual concerns are recurring in nature and
cause her personal distress, she may indeed have female sexual dysfunction.

Specifically,
Female Sexual Dysfunction is divided into categories related to desire, orgasm,
arousal and pain. The medical definitions for the types of Female Sexual
Dysfunction are found below. All of the disorders have a common component,
namely, that the problem causes a woman personal distress.

What
Causes Female Sexual Dysfunction?

Many
women may think that Female Sexual Dysfunction is a normal consequence of
childbirth, aging or menopause. This is not true. Women may have been told that
the problem is "just in your head" which is also incorrect. Many times
the primary cause of Female Sexual Dysfunction is physical in nature and is not
psychological. However, due to the very personal nature of Female Sexual
Dysfunction, psychological factors may become involved as well. For example, if
a woman has decreased vaginal lubrication or wetness this may lead to painful
intercourse. This in turn may become very distressing to both the woman and her
partner and result in personal distress.

Some
of the physical causes of Female Sexual Dysfunction include:

Pelvic
surgery or trauma including hysterectomy, pelvic fractures, difficult
childbirth or straddle injuries (such as falling on a bicycle or balance
beam).

Female Sexual
Arousal Disorder or “FSAD” is the female’s inhibition or lack of becoming
sexually aroused. FSAD is a significant problem that negatively impacts
marriages and other relationships.

Like all
other female sexual dysfunctions, FSAD may be life long or acquired. Life long
means that the woman has never been responsive to sexual stimulation. Acquired
means that at some point the women has been responsive to sexual stimulation but
is now unresponsive. But it can also be situational or generalized. Situational
is when the dysfunction occurs in some situations and not others. Generalized is
when the dysfunction occurs regardless of the situation. Therefore a woman can
have FSAD that is; life long and situational, acquired and situational, life
long and generalized, or acquired and generalized. For example, a woman who has
FSAD as life long and situational would have always had trouble becoming
aroused, but only with her partner. A woman who has FSAD as acquired and
situational would have some period in the past without having trouble becoming
aroused, but now does, but only with her partner. A woman who has FSAD as life
long and generalized would have always had trouble getting aroused in all
situations. And finally, a woman with FSAD as acquired and generalized would
have had some period in the past absent of problems but now is unable to become
aroused regardless of the situation.

The DSM IV
describes Female Sexual Arousal Disorder as the persistent or recurrent
inability attain or maintain until completion of sexual activity, an adequate
lubrication-swelling response of sexual excitement. Some of the most common
causes of this dysfunction are guilt and hostility. Guilt usually involves an
internal conflict between a desire to enjoy sexual interaction and an
unconscious fear of doing so. Hostility often involves her specific partner.

Female Sexual
Arousal Disorder (FSAD) is a persistent or recurrent inability to attain, or to
maintain until completion of the sexual activity, an adequate
lubrication-swelling response of sexual excitement. This "response"
involves vaginal lubrication, expansion of the vagina, and swelling of the labia
minora, labia majora and clitoris. The disturbance must cause marked distress or interpersonal
difficulty. The dysfunction is also not better accounted for by another problem
and is not due exclusively to the direct physical effects of a substance (i.e.
an illegal drug or prescription medication) or a medical condition.

As with all sexual disorders, FSAD can be classified as lifelong (existing for
the entirety of the person’s adult life) or acquired (developed after a period
of normal functioning). It can also be classified as generalized (occurring
across all partners, sexual activities, and situations) or situational (limited
to certain partners, sexual practices, or situations). This disorder is not to
be confused with hypoactive sexual arousal disorder. In the case of FSAD, the
person does have desire, whereas with HSDD, the individual does not. Women with
F.S.A.D have sexual desire but for various reasons, have difficulty obtaining
sexual satisfaction.

The following
are the diagnostic criteria for FSAD as provided by the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition (DSM-IV, 1994):

A. Persistent
or recurrent inability to attain, or to maintain until completion of the sexual
activity, an adequate lubrication-swelling response of sexual excitement.

C. The sexual
dysfunction is not better accounted for by another disorder and is not due
exclusively to the direct physiological effects of a substance (e.g. a drug or
medication) or a general medical condition.

The Female Sexual
Arousal Disorder and Female Sexual Dysfunction market is expected to reach $12
billion per year at market maturity. This is due to the fact that at least 50%
more women suffer from Female Sexual Dysfunction than men with Erectile
Dysfunction. Men now have Cialis, Levitra, and Viagra for help with their
problem, yet 40 million American women are still suffering from Female Sexual
Dysfunction. Sales of these little blue pills reached $4 billion last year.
Because women are much more “complicated” than men in terms of sexual
function, a “little pink pill” may not be the complete panacea that women
require to achieve the same level of sexual satisfaction as the “little blue
pill” does for men. If there were a “little pink pill” on the market, it
would cost about the same as the little blue pills. Therefore, sales of
“little pink pills should be at least 50% more, or soon reach/exceed $6
billion/year. However, there is much more to be discovered about female sexual
function and dysfunction and we believe this figure could easily double, very
soon to $12 billion/year, once more research and clinical trials, and
investigations have been concluded.

According to
the Journal of the American Medical Association, more than 43% of American women
(about 40 million) experience some form of sexual disorder. Any woman can
experience Female Sexual Dysfunction at some point in her life. Sexuality is a
crucial component of general health and well-being of women, yet, according to a
report published in the February 9, 1999, Journal of the American Medical
Association, at least 43 percent of American woman, of all ages, suffer from
female sexual dysfunction. This equates to over 40 million American women who
are affected by FSD.

The National
Health and Social Life Survey, a probability sample study of sexual behavior in
a demographically representative sample of US adults ages 18 to 59, found that
sexual dysfunction is more prevalent in women (43%) than in men (31%), and
decreases as women age. Married women have a lower risk of sexual dysfunction
than unmarried women. Hispanic women consistently report lower rates of sexual
problems, whereas African American women have higher rates of decreased sexual
desire and pleasure than do Caucasian women. Sexual pain is more likely to occur
in Caucasians. This survey was limited by its cross-sectional design and age
restrictions, since women more than 60 years old were excluded. No adjustments
were made for the effects of menopausal status or medical risk factors. Despite
these limitations, the survey clearly indicates that sexual dysfunction affects
many women.

The Journal
of the American Medical Association reported in 1998 that 43% of women of all
ages experienced sexual dysfunction, yet only 31% of men did; until now male
sexual dysfunction has received all of the attention.

Context While
recent pharmacological advances have generated increased public interest and
demand for clinical services regarding erectile dysfunction, epidemiologic data
on sexual dysfunction are relatively scant for both women and men.

Objective To
assess the prevalence and risk of experiencing sexual dysfunction across various
social groups and examine the determinants and health consequences of these
disorders.

Design
Analysis of data from the National Health and Social Life Survey, a probability
sample study of sexual behavior in a demographically representative, 1992 cohort
of US adults.

Participants
A national probability sample of 1749 women and 1410 men aged 18 to 59 years at
the time of the survey.
Main Outcome Measures Risk of experiencing sexual dysfunction as well as
negative concomitant outcomes.

Results
Sexual dysfunction is more prevalent for women (43%) than men (31%) and is
associated with various demographic characteristics, including age and
educational attainment. Women of different racial groups demonstrate different
patterns of sexual dysfunction. Differences among men are not as marked but
generally consistent with women. Experience of sexual dysfunction is more likely
among women and men with poor physical and emotional health. Moreover, sexual
dysfunction is highly associated with negative experiences in sexual
relationships and overall well-being.

Conclusions
The results indicate that sexual dysfunction is an important public health
concern, and emotional problems likely contribute to the experience of these
problems.

While
a gynecologist or family physician may be knowledgeable and able to diagnose
disease and disorders of a woman's vagina, vulva and care for her reproductive
and vulvovaginal
health, he/she may lack the requisite
education as it relates to her sexual health. While men have had their
"little blue pills" for ED since 1999, a "little
pink pill" is still not ready for
women for their ED or Female
Erectile Dysfunction.

The
fact is, 50% more women than men suffer from "erectile dysfunction"
and a woman's erection is just as important as a man's erection.

"Female
Sexual Dysfunction" is the generic term applied to the several sexual
health problems women have that is one of the fastest growing areas of medicine
known as "Female
Sexual Medicine."

Female
Sexual Medicinetreats
women and the various ailments and disorders which interfere with female sexual
satisfaction, including;

It
is important to note that 43% of American women -- about 40 million -- have
physical and/or emotional distress relating to enjoying sex. This is manifested
in loss of interest in sex, no longer finding sex enjoyable, or providing the
enjoyment sex used to bring, or the inability to complete a sexual encounter to
orgasm. or it just is not as enjoyable as it used be. Many women also report
diminished sexual sensations in their vulva, vagina or clitoris while other
women have pain during intercourse.

What
IsLichen
Sclerosus?A woman may not experience
anymore excruciating pain, suffering and embarrassment than that caused by a
disease called "Lichen
Sclerosus."

Lichen
Sclerosus (LIKE-in
skler-O-sus) or "LS," is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder that is
most common in women, but can affect men as well.

Lichen
Sclerosus usually
affects the vulva, including the labia majora, labia minora, clitoris (clitoral
glans), clitoral hood, vagina/vaginal introitus, the vestibule (also
referred to as the vulval vestibule, vulvar vestibule, vaginal vestibule and
vestibule of the vagina, which is the area in between the labia minora where the
urethral opening and vaginal opening are located) and the anal area.

When
LS affects the vagina (within the vulva) or vaginal mucosa, which is the lining
of the vagina, it is no longer known as Lichen
Sclerosus, but Lichen
Planus "LP."

Lichen
Sclerosus appears
predominantly in postmenopausal women. Occasionally, Lichen
Sclerosus is seen on
other parts of the body, especially the upper body, breasts, and upper arms.

The
symptoms are the same in children and adults. Early in the disease, small,
subtle white spots appear. These areas are usually slightly shiny and smooth. As
time goes on, the spots develop into bigger patches, and the skin surface
becomes thinned and crinkled. As a result, the skin tears easily, and bright red
or purple discoloration from bleeding inside the skin is common.

More
severe cases of Lichen
Sclerosus produce
scarring in the vulvovaginal area
which may cause the inner lips of the vulva to shrink and disappear and the
clitoris could become covered with scar tissue. In addition, the opening to the
vagina (vaginal introitus) may narrow significantly making intercourse painful,
if not impossible. Urination is also very painful.

Vulvar
cancer can be found in and around a woman's labia majora, labia
minora, and/or clitoris, as well as within the vagina, which is then called
vaginal cancer. The cancer usually develops slowly over several years. In
the beginning stages of vulvar
cancer, precancerous cells grow on/within the vulva. This is called
vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN), or dysplasia. Not all VIN cases turn
into cancer, but it is best to treat it early and when diagnosed early,
prognosis is good, with 90% (+) survival rates.

Typically,
there are few if any indications or symptoms in the early stages of vulvar
cancer.

However,
you should IMMEDIATELY see your doctor if you notice any of the following from
your vulvovaginal area: